D. Shostakovich composed his Sonata for Violin and Piano in
1968. It was dedicated to David Oistrakh on his sixtieth
anniversary. The structure of the Sonata, where the first and third calm, discreet and
concentrated parts frame the second active and energetic one is not usual.
Sonata for Viola and Piano, written in 1975, was Shostakovich's last work. It was performed for the first time after the composer's
death. The Sonata was dedicated to F. Druzhinin, one of the Beethoven
Quartet members. Together with M. Muntyan, he was the first performer of
the Sonata. There are deep, philosophic, lyric dominates in Shostakovich's Viola Sonata.
We can hear distant reminiscences of Beethoven's "'Moonlight' Sonata",
especially in the finale.